A grieving father whose son died after suffering a seizure at home has claimed that he would still be alive today if the ambulance had arrived at the family home sooner.

Kieran O’Connor (32), who had an intellectual disability, epilepsy and mild cerebral palsy, died after suffering a “status epilepticus” seizure at home in Shanagarry, Co. Cork on April 13 last.

His father Tom O’Connor said it took between 35 and 40 minutes for the ambulance to arrive at their home in rural County Cork, having been dispatched from Youghal in the east of the county, some 15 kilometres away.

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“It’s not good enough that the ambulance took 35 to 40 minutes.

"My son was alive at eight years of age when he suffered a “status epilepticus” in San Diego because the ambulance arrived in five to ten minutes and they had the medication to administer to him,” said Mr O’Connor.

“The response times are totally unacceptable. HIQA say the ambulance should be there within 11 minutes in a dire emergency.

“They need to conform to the HIQA guidelines otherwise people will die,” said the heartbroken father of four.

The HSE national ambulance service said in a statement that an emergency ambulance was at the house 23 minutes after the 999 call was received.

Mr O’Connor said that he and his wife Attracta were away for a couple of days and that 32 year old Kieran was being cared for by their three adult daughters when he suffered the devastating seizure.

His daughter Breeda immediately rang the ambulance and remained on the phone until they arrived at their home.

The devastated father said that his daughter spoke to him and his wife on the phone after the paramedics had arrived and told them that she didn’t think Kieran was going to live.

Much loved...Kieran O'Connor with his sisters

“She told us he was black,” said Mr O’Connor.

“He was extremely near death when they arrived. After ten minutes of a seizure like that your brain starts to shut down,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said he understood that Kieran was not administered an anti-seizure medication such as Buccal Midazolam or Phenobarbital by the paramedics, but added that by the time they arrived it was “probably way too late for Kieran.”

The father of four said it was his understanding that the paramedics tried to give his son oxygen, as well as administering CPR and a heart-drug.

Mr O’Connor expressed concern about the fact that as far as he aware, only advanced paramedics are allowed to administer Buccal Midazolam and that “ordinary” paramedics are not.

The father of four explained that his son had previously suffered a “status epilepticus” seizure when he was eight when the family were living in San Diego in the U.S. and had survived.

“The ambulance was up in five or ten minutes….. they pumped him full of phenobarital and the seizure ceased immediately.”

Mr O’Connor said that Kieran’s death had left a huge hole in their lives.

“He was a very gentle, very loving, great guy. He was my right arm.”

“We were very close to him. He was a joy.”

In a statement the HSE National Ambulance Service confirmed that a 999 call was received for the Midleton area of Cork on 13th April 2014 at 00:36hrs.

“The nearest available emergency ambulance was immediately dispatched and arrived at the scene at 00:59hrs.”

“At 01:14 a second ambulance was dispatched to assist the first crew and arrived at the scene at 01:36hrs.”